According to award-winning author Craig Barnes, "the rule
of law and a civil society bound by conventions of justice and fairness
is today under challenge," and as a result, "the United States is once
again engaged in a great struggle for its civic soul." In this engaging
and eye-opening book, Barnes examines how Western ideals of democracy
have evolved and emerged through the ages and across continents. Unlike
the many books that have been written on this topic, Barnes eschews
simple current affairs analysis and name-calling, instead grounding his
argument on a deep understanding of history and an exploration of the
philosophical and legal underpinnings of democracy. He shares the
inspiring stories of a diverse group of men and women—including our
nation's founders, as well as parliamentarians, poets, and peasants—who
pioneered due process, habeas corpus, and the balance of powers.

Exploring the premise that democracy is not a given in social
evolution, Barnes contrasts the heroic figures of history to those in
recent presidential administrations whom he argues have ignored the
precious nature of our inheritance and have placed democracy at risk. Democracy at the Crossroads
is a stirring reminder of the fragility of our rule of law and the need
for vigilant protection of our hard-won liberties at a critical
juncture in our history.

Craig S. Barnes has been involved in public policy and
women's rights throughout his wide-ranging career. As a lawyer, he
served as co-counsel on the Denver school integration case and the
nation's first comparable worth case for women. Barnes has been a
columnist for the Rocky Mountain News and a regular
commentator on National Public Radio. In the 1990s, he facilitated
talks between opposing sides in the war between Armenia and Azerbaijan,
and has served as an international mediator in several of the former
Soviet Republics. He is the author of Growing Up True (a BookSense 76 pick) and In Search of the Lost Feminine (winner
of the Eric Hoffer Award). In 2006, in the midst of growing concern
about the war in Iraq, Barnes wrote and directed Ed Asner inn a staged
reading of a trial drama, A Nation Deceived: America's First Presidential Felony Trial.

Please call 877-988-4226 to reserve your copy today!